Cigar mouthpiece



Sept. 11, 1962 L. 1. SEVEN 3,053,261

CIGAR MOUTHPIECE Filed Aug. 17, 1960 atent 3,053,261 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 3,053,261 CIGAR MOUTHPIECE Louis I. Sieven, 50 Kenilworth Place, Brooklyn, NY. Filed Aug. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 50,160 2 Claims. ((11. 131-487) In smoking cigars and cigarettes, it has generally been found that certain undesirable characteristics are produced at the butt end thereof. Among these undesirable characteristics has been the constant contact of the lips and tongue with the tobacco therein; the wet and soggy characteristic of the tobacco due to the constant application thereto of moisture from the mouth, as well as moisture carried by the smoke; the fraying of the tobacco and separation of portions thereof. In order to eliminate some of these undesirable characteristics, a number of mouthpieces have been proposed which act in some degree as a barrier between the tobacco of the cigar and the mouth of the smoker. Such mouthpieces, however, have left much to be desired in that they alter the characteristics and feel of natural smoking and otherwise fail to produce a pleasant, comfortable and pleasing smoke.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a detachable mouthpiece for cigars or cigarettes wherein all of the characteristics of natural cigar smoking are retained while simultaneously eliminating the undesirable characteristics of contact between the cigar tobacco and the portions of the smokers mouth.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mouthpiece of the character indicated which is convenient and sanitary to use and wherein the absorption of moisture from the mouth by the tobacco is reduced to a minimum, if not entirely eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mouthpiece of the character indicated having improved means for cushioning the bite of the user.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a cigar mouthpiece of the character indicated which may be readily mounted and removed from the cigar and which may be conveniently carried upon the person of the smoker when not in use.

Other and further objects, benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description thereof contained in the annexed drawings, specifications and claims or will otherwise become obvious.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cigar mouthpiece in accordance with the present invention positioned in relation to the butt end of a cigar;

FIGURE 2 is a view of a mouthpiece in accordance with the present invention positioned upon a cigar as in use wherein the cigar mouthpiece isshown in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a cigar mouthpiece in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away and shown in section; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cigar mouthpiece in accordance with the present invention taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

As may be seen from the accompanying drawing, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a cigar mouthpiece in the form of an elongated substantially bellshaped hollow body, generally designated by the numeral and generally conformable to the configuration of the butt end 14 of a cigar v13. The body 10 is advantageously formed of a rubber latex, as by the dipping process well known to those skilled in the art, or it may be formed by other suitable means or of any similar elastomeric material, such as a synthetic resin, for example. The body 10 is provided with an open end 11,

the other end of said body being closed, as indicated at 12. The substantially bell-shaped wall 15 of the body 10 is relatively thin so as to be readily flexible and somewhat stretchable so as to conform to the butt end 14 of a cigar when said butt end is inserted in the hollow body.

As an aid in applying the mouthpiece to the cigar butt, it has been found advantageous to provide a bead 16 surrounding the open end .11 of the body, said head 16 being interrupted as by longitudinal notches 17 to form a plurality of annular tabs.

Adjacent to the said interrupted bead 16, the body is formed with a constricted neck 18 which is normally tightly engageable with the generally cylindrical cigar 13 so as to be secured thereon. However, to facilitate the mounting of the body 10 upon the cigar, the annular tabs are manually engaged so as to widen the normally constricted neck 18 and pull the open end 11 of the body 10 into conformable contact with the butt of the cigar.

It has also been found advantageous to form a cushion 19 integral with the side wall of the body 10 so as to yieldably resist the bite of the user and thereby minimize wear and the possibility of rupture of the body 10. In addition, such a cushion tends to prevent the entry of moisture into the cigar by way of any opening in the body which might otherwise be produced by the teeth of the user. It will also be noted that since the cushion extends for almost the entire length of the side wall, any cigar butt received within the body is tightly engaged by said cushion so as to minimize the possibility of said cigar butt accidentally escaping from the body even though the end of said butt may not be in contact with the closed' end of the body 12. The cushion acts as a support for the cigar butt.

The wall 20 of the body is also provided with a pair of externally projecting longitudinally extending ribs 21 which are formed integrally with the body by thickening the material of the wall in these regions. The ribs 21 are disposed in axial alignment and are diametrically opposed to each other. In applying the mouthpiece to the cigar or in removal of said mouthpiece from the cigar, the ribs 21 may be grasped and drawn longitudinally of the cigar, thereby facilitating the relative motion of the cigar and mouthpiece, the aforesaid tabs also being manually engageable, as aforesaid, as a further aid in this respect.

A plurality of small apertures 22 are provided in the side wall of the body. Said apertures are disposed adjacent to but spaced from the closed end of the mouthpiece and are circumferentially spaced. It has been found advantageous to limit the apertures to about onehalf of the circumference of the side wall of the body. The apertues thus lie between the ribs 21 and face upwardly. By disposing the small apertures in this manner, moisture from the cigar is trapped within the mouthpiece and prevented from escaping into the mouth of the smoker. The longitudinal ribs also serve to assure that all of the apertures are upwardly directed since they locate the mouthpiece laterally in the mouth.

It will be noted that the material from which the body is formed, such as rubber latex, being thin and stretchable, will readily grip the peripheral surface of the cigar so as to remain in position during the smoking operation. With the mouthpiece disposed over the butt end of the cigar, as heretofore indicated, the cigar butt is crushed either by manually compressing the mouthpiece, or by placing the cigar in the mouth in the usual smoking position and compressing the entire assembly with the teeth in the normal biting action imposed upon a cigar during smoking. The net effect of this crushing action is to spread the longitudinal ribs laterally in the mouth of the user, thereby affording him a better grip on the entire assembly, and to flatten the butt end of it and to place the cigar in smoking condition. The crushing of the butt end of the cigar opens a multiplicity of passages for the smoke and provides for an easy draw of smoke therethrough. It will be noted that in this connection it is not necessary to sever the cigar tip prior to insertion in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece being provided with apertures 22 in the side wall thereof thus permits the ready passage of the smoke from the crushed butt end of the cigar into the smokers mouth. Since the apertures 22 are located in the side wall of the body and are of relatively small diameter, contact between the smokers lips or tongue and the tobacco is reduced to a minimum and, for all practical purposes, is entirely eliminated. The ribs 21 being diametrically opposed, locates the mouthpiece so that all of the apertures are directed upwardly. It will be noted further that the cigar and mouthpiece, when being smoked, conforms to the configuration of the bite or teeth and line of the smoker, as would normally be the case when a cigar is being smoked without the interposition of any mouthpiece whatsoever and provides a soft and convenient grip for the smoker. The crushed end of the cigar tends to keep the mouthpiece in flattened oval shape. The longitudinal ribs also contribute to a firm gripping action between the teeth of the smoker. The mouthpiece may be readily withdrawn from the cigar and re-used. It may be washed or otherwise cleaned and can readily be stored in a bag, envelope or other receptacle carried upon the person of the smoker in condition for re-use.

As heretofore indicated, the cushion 19 comprises a significant feature of the instant invention and permits the user to more firmly and securely hold the mouthpiece and the cigar disposed therein in position. This holding action is accomplished without excessive pressure being applied by the jaws and teeth of the user and consequently adds materially to the comfort of the smoker. A comparatively light pressure by the teeth against the mouthpiece is adequate thereby eliminating any undue fatigue. The cushion further serves to eliminate any grinding action such as occurs when a smoker bites through the end of a cigar, or as is occasioned by the use of a rigid mouthpiece. The incorporation of the cushion is in addition to the cushioning action provided by the wall of the mouthpiece. As heretofore pointed out, the cushion comprising a longitudinal extending rib along the underside of the mouthpiece acts as a support for the cigar. This arrangement enables the user to insert the cigar butt into the mouthpiece a comparatively short distance so that the bite of the smoker need not act upon the cigar butt at all, but is applied to compressing the wall of the mouthpiece only. In spite of the fact that the clamping action of the teeth is applied to the rubbery or elastomeric material of the mouthpiece only, nevertheless the cigar is supported by the supporting action of the cushion 19 so that it extends horizontally and does not dangle therefrom at any material angle of inclination. Thus, an extremely soft bite is provided cigar butt is positioned short of the tip of the mouthpiece, as heretofore indicated, a smoke collecting chamber is formed between the butt end of the cigar and the mouthpiece walls so that a uniform quantity of smoke is constantly available which has, to some degree, cooled during its accumulation in the chamber.

I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It will be apparent, however, that this invention is not limited to this embodiment and that many changes, additions and modifications can be made in connection therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein disclosed and hereafter claimed.

Iclaim:

1. A mouthpiece for a tobacco article comprising a bell-shaped hollow body of resilient material, generally conformable with the butt end of a tobacco article, the open end of said bell-shaped hollow body being surrounded by a bead interrupted by a plurality of longitudinal notches, the said bell-shaped hollow body being provided with a constricted neck adjacent to said bead, the said bell-shaped hollow body also being provided with a pair of externally projecting ribs extending longitudinally thereof, said ribs being in axial alignment and diametrically opposed to each other, said mouthpiece having a plurality of upwardly faced apertures disposed between said ribs at one side of said body and spaced from but adjacent to the closed end of the bell-shaped hollow body, said closed end being free of apertures and a portion of the resilient side wall of said bell-shaped hollow body being thickened adjacent to the closed end of said body, to form a cushion, said thickened portion being substantially diametrically opposite to the said apertures.

2. A device according to claim 1, said thickened portion extending for substantially the full length of the side wall of said bell-shaped hollow body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 100,850 Brinkerhoff Mar. 15, 1870 394,575 James Dec. 18, 1888 900,432 Semenofi Oct. 6, 1908 909,903 Hustis Jan. 19, 1909 953,419 Hammerstein Mar. 29, 1910 2,484,757 Soccoli Oct. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 36,836 Australia Apr. 10, 1909 47,347 Denmark May 15, 1933 423,475 France Feb. 11, 1911 

